| Castilleja linariifolia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Castilleja linariifolia, in theGrand Teton National Park, Wyoming. | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Orobanchaceae |
| Genus: | Castilleja |
| Species: | C. linariifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Castilleja linariifolia | |
Castilleja linariifolia is aperennial plant, native to theUnited States and is thestate flower ofWyoming. It has a number of common names includingPrairie Fire,Wyoming Indian paintbrush,narrow-leaved Indian paintbrush,desert paintbrush,Wyoming desert paintbrush,Wyoming paintbrush,linaria-leaved Indian paintbrush, andIndian paintbrush.[2]
It is a perennial herb.[3] It grows up to one meter in height and has sparse, linear leaves which are between 20 and 80 mm in length and have up to 3 lobes.[4] The flowers, which consist of a pinkish-red to yellow calyx and yellow-green floral tube, appear in panicles or spikes between June and September in its native range.[4]
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This species occurs on rocky slopes and arid plains and is associated withsagebrush scrub as well aspinyon pine orjuniper woodland.[4] It is native toArizona,California,Colorado,Idaho,Montana,New Mexico,Nevada,Oregon,Utah and Wyoming.[5]
TheEdith's checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha) in some areas such asGunnison County, Colorado feeds nearly exclusively on the Wyoming paintbrush. Other species in the area such asCastilleja chromosa andPenstemon strictus have similar nutritional qualities, but the greater and more consistent availability of Wyoming paintbrush such as droughts are thought to have given the butterfly a preference for this paintbrush species.[6]
When options were being considered for a state flower for Wyoming,Dr. Grace Raymond Hebard from theUniversity of Wyoming promoted this species over rival candidates including thecolumbine andfringed gentian.[2]
The State of Wyoming officially adopted the Indian paintbrush ("Castilleja linariaefolia") as the state flower of Wyoming on January 31, 1917.[2][7]
